Anders Dreyer does it again for San Diego FC. Dreyer’s first-half goal proved to be the game-winner in Kansas City, leading SDFC to a record start in the MLS. The Danish star is playing at an MVP-level in 2026 with five goal contributions (two goals and three assists).
Midfielder Onni Valakari assisted Dreyer’s goal in the 39th minute. The 27-year-old right-winger received the pass just outside the middle of the box, and his left-footed strike was out of the reach of goalkeeper John Pulskamp.
San Diego's plus-eight goal differential over three matches ties them with some of the best starts in league history, joining Chicago (1999), Atlanta (2017), and Austin (2022). Among those teams, SDFC is the only one that has not conceded a goal.
When asked about this record start, head coach Mikey Varas said, “When you have a group of people completely united by the convictions and efforts they put towards a mission that they’re on every single day, authentically and fully, then you have the opportunity for these things to happen.”
.@sandiegofc is off to a record start. 📈 pic.twitter.com/Kx8pCrXmED
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 8, 2026
Duran Ferree and the young San Diego backline logged yet another clean sheet. The 19-year-old goalkeeper continues to solidify his case to remain in goal. Ferree, a San Diego native, made crucial saves down the stretch to secure the three points for his squad.
“We’re pretty happy with the way it went—we were able to hold them off,” Ferree said postgame. “It was a team effort; the guys were working back to block these shots. Of course, I got a few opportunities to show myself, and I’m glad I was able to make those saves.”
Varas mentioned that this was another step in the right direction for the young goalkeeper. “We know what he could do with the ball at his feet,” he said. “I think he’s been showing that he’s pretty brave in terms of his positioning to protect the backline with the space behind. He’s also shown that he can come out for crosses, which is really good.”
Luca Bombino received praise from Varas, saying he’s happy with his performance because it’s not easy to play the right-back position as a left-footer—“he’s taken it on really mature and he’s someone we really trust pretty much anywhere on the field.”
San Diego again dominated possession with 66.9%, registering 15 shot attempts and five shots on goal. Pulskamp had a commendable night in goal, making four saves against the potent attack.
“It was a really professional performance where we controlled large portions of that game and created a lot of big chances,” Varas said about the road win. San Diego had 12 wins away from Snapdragon Stadium in its inaugural season—the most in the league.
ROAD WIN pic.twitter.com/faIZJYPx6h
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) March 8, 2026
The only change Varas made to the starting XI was swapping veteran midfielder Aníbal Godoy for 19-year-old Pedro Soma—his first regular-season start in 2026. Lewis Morgan, acquired from New York Red Bulls in the offseason, made his SDFC debut in the 76th minute.
This victory against Sporting Kansas City marked the start of SDFC's jam-packed schedule, with five matches in 16 days.
San Diego will be back in action on Wednesday, March 11, as they host Toluca in the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup. Their second match against the Mexican team is scheduled for March 18. They will travel to Dallas on March 14, then host Real Salt Lake on March 22.
